NBCOT Human Development Across the Lifespan

Question 1

According to Erikson's stages of psychosocial development, the primary task of adolescence (ages 12–18) is resolution of which conflict?

Accepted Answer

Identity vs. Role Confusion

Answer

Erikson's adolescent stage is Identity vs. Role Confusion, during which the young person explores roles, values, and beliefs to form a coherent self-concept. Intimacy vs. Isolation is young adulthood; Generativity vs. Stagnation is middle adulthood.

Question 2

A 4-year-old child is MOST likely to demonstrate which of the following fine motor skills?

Accepted Answer

Cutting along a straight line with scissors

Answer

By age 4, most children can cut along a straight line with scissors. Tying shoelaces emerges around age 5–6; drawing a person with six parts is typical near age 5; writing legible letters is a kindergarten-age skill.

Question 3

Normal aging changes an OT should anticipate when treating a healthy 75-year-old client include:

Accepted Answer

Decreased proprioception, reduced grip strength, and slower reaction time

Answer

Typical aging includes reduced proprioception, diminished grip strength, and slower processing and reaction time. Processing speed decreases with age; near vision and color discrimination worsen; both muscle mass and bone density decline.

Question 4

According to Piaget, a child in the preoperational stage (ages 2–7) would have MOST difficulty with which task?

Accepted Answer

Conservation of volume

Answer

Conservation — understanding that quantity remains constant despite changes in appearance — develops in the concrete operational stage (ages 7–11) and is absent in preoperational thought. Object permanence develops in the sensorimotor stage; symbolic play and language are hallmarks of preoperational development.

Question 5

A premature infant born at 32 weeks gestation is now 4 months old (chronological age). The OT should compare the infant's developmental skills against which age?

Accepted Answer

2 months corrected age

Answer

Corrected age (chronological age minus weeks of prematurity) is used for developmental assessment in premature infants until approximately 2 years. A 32-week gestation infant is 8 weeks early, so at 4 months chronological the corrected age is 2 months.

NBCOT - National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Practice Test

NBCOT - National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy Practice Test

NBCOT Human Development Across the Lifespan